Day: October 26, 2023

Chinese tourists seek less trodden path as overseas travellers decline, become choosier post-Covid

Media Library

Despite the obstacles, Ma and her middle-class peers are expected to travel in growing numbers, with flights set to increase further early next year, with visa backlogs not forecast to extend into 2024. In the post-pandemic era, Chinese travellers are seen to prefer travelling in small groups to countries near or far, well known or otherwise, for solo sightseeing and adventure on a range of budgets – despite economic issues at home – tourism industry veterans said. “They prioritise personalised travel services catering to specific interests and passions, such as…

China’s Former Premier Li Keqiang Dies at 68

Media Library

Advertisement Former Premier Li Keqiang, China’s top economic official for a decade, died Friday of a heart attack. He was 68. Li was China’s No. 2 leader from 2013-23 and an advocate for private business but was left with little authority after President Xi Jinping made himself the most powerful Chinese leader in decades and tightened control over the economy and society. State broadcaster CCTV said Li had been resting in Shanghai recently and had a heart attack on Thursday. He died at 12:10 a.m. Friday. Li, an English-speaking economist,…

China’s former premier Li Keqiang dies suddenly at 68

Media Library

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Li Keqiang, China’s former premier under President Xi Jinping, has died aged 68, state media reported on Friday. The senior Communist party official, who until March was the head of Xi’s cabinet and led economic policy for a decade, suffered a heart attack on Thursday in Shanghai, Xinhua said. The state-run news agency said “despite all-out rescue efforts”, the former second-ranked official passed away 10 minutes past midnight on Friday.…

China, Pakistan to hold Arabian Sea joint military drills in November

Media Library

The two countries are aiming to further deepen the “China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and traditional friendship”, and improve the level of actual combat training between the two militaries, he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar at last week’s belt and road forum in Beijing and pledged to “promote regional unity and cooperation and safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries”. Last month, the PLA Air Force’s J-16 fighter jet and Pakistan’s J-10C and JF-17 fighters took to the skies over northwest China for…

Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Sidelined by Xi Jinping, Dies at 68

Media Library

beijing —  Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang died Friday of a heart attack just 10 months after retiring from a decade of office, during which his star had dimmed. He was 68. Once viewed as a top Communist Party leadership contender, Li was sidelined in recent years by President Xi Jinping, who tightened his grip on power and steered the world’s second-largest economy in a more statist direction. The elite Peking University-educated economist was seen as a supporter of a more liberal market economy but had to bend to Xi’s…

Hamas uses N Korea, Iran arms in its Israel assault, military says

Media Library

Hamas has used weapons sourced from North Korea and Iran to target Israel, the Israeli military said, supporting Radio Free Asia’s earlier report on the alleged arms connection between the North and Hamas. Hamas used Iranian-made mortar rounds and North Korean rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in its attack against Israel on Oct. 7, the Israeli military stated during an official media tour Thursday, as reported by AFP. “I think about 5-10% of the weapons here [were] made in Iran,” an Israeli military official, who asked for the condition of anonymity, was cited…

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies at 68

Media Library

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang died of a heart attack on Friday in Shanghai, China’s state media reported. “Comrade Li was resting in Shanghai in recent days, when he was seized by a sudden heart attack. He died in Shanghai on Oct. 28 when all-out efforts to revive him failed. He was 68,” said the statement carried by Xinhua News Agency. The former head of China’s State Council – or cabinet – who was charged with overseeing the Chinese economy, the world’s second-largest, was seen as being sidelined in recent…

Li Keqiang, China’s former premier, dies suddenly at 68

Media Library

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Li Keqiang, China’s former premier and a onetime rival to President Xi Jinping, has died aged 68, state media reported on Friday. The senior Communist party figure, who until March was the head of Xi’s cabinet and led economic policy, suffered a sudden heart attack on Thursday, Xinhua said. He was in Shanghai and died 10 minutes after midnight on Friday morning after efforts to save him failed, it added.…

North Korea Using Ties With Russia to Boost Standing With China

Media Library

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is using his renewed diplomatic engagement and arms dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin to enhance his position with China as the three socialist countries move to counter the U.S., according to analysts. North Korea vowed Tuesday to continue its military cooperation with Russia despite international objections voiced at meetings on conventional weapons at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. “The DPRK will further develop traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation and other independent sovereign countries,” said North Korea’s…

Li Keqiang, Former Chinese Premier, Dies of Heart Attack at 68

Media Library

China’s former premier Li Keqiang died of a heart attack on Friday, Chinese state media announced — an abruptly early end to a leader who had served alongside Xi Jinping for a decade until March. Mr. Li, 68, was visiting Shanghai when he suddenly suffered the heart failure near midnight on Thursday, a report on Chinese state television said. “All efforts to resuscitate him failed,” said the report. Mr. Li was once considered a potential top leader of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. But in the end, he was overtaken…